Ayrshire College supports Ayrshire Sportsability’s Festival of Sport
Over 500 pupils and adults arrived at Ayrshire College’s Kilmarnock Campus for a week-long Festival of Sport organised by Ayrshire Sportsability.
Ayrshire Sportsability co-hosts the annual Festival of Sport with their Development Partners – East, North and South Ayrshire Councils and Ayrshire College.
The event gives pupils with disabilities in mainstream and Additional Support Need schools, as well as adults from the local communities, a chance to take part in disability sports which they may not usually have access to.
The Festival of Sport is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Ayrshire College calendar for Sport & Fitness students as they participate in the planning and delivery of the activities throughout the week.
This year participants were able to enjoy sessions in: athletics, basketball, boccia (an activity similar to bowls), dance, football, handball, karate, and sitting volleyball.
Expert Advisors to Ayrshire Sportsability from KA Leisure, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Scottish Disability Sports, and sportscotland, were in attendance to offer their support.
Dr Wai-yin Hatton, co-founder of Ayrshire Sportsability and former Ayrshire College Vice-chair said: “This Ayrshire Sportsability flagship annual event promotes disability sports, provides opportunities to try different sports and enables Scottish Disability Sports to identify talents for regional and national squads. Ayrshire College plays an essential part in making it a success. The students’ enthusiasm encourages participants to try the sports with confidence and ensure a sense of fun.”
Kayzer Collins, HND Coaching and Developing Sport student, said: “It’s brilliant to see so many kids coming from all over Ayrshire and be able to take part in sports that they may not be able to at their school. I’ve helped out with every sport here for three days, and it’s been great to have this opportunity. The fact that everyone is smiling here makes me really happy.”
Kirsty Thomson, Deputy Head at Crosshouse Communication Centre, said: “This event has given our pupils a real opportunity to experience a range of different sports that can be tailored to their individual needs. For me, it’s also about giving them confidence. For some of them, the success is just coming along to this today and knowing they can do this.”
16 October 2019
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